SCOREBOARD: AUS 3-4 ECU

Tim Cahill became Australia's all-time leading goalscorer with a brace in the first half as Australia got off to a dream start to lead the South Americans 3-0 at half-time.

But Ecuador pulled a goal back through Fidel Martinez, before substitute goalkeeper Mitch Langerak was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle in the box.

Ecuador scored from the resulting penalty, then exposed a tiring, reshuffled Australian defence for Enner Valencia to equalise with 14 minutes remaining.

The more-fancied Ecuador then won it at the death, with Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia exploiting a defensive mistake to supply Edison Mendez the cross to score in the second minute of added time.

Cahill briefly puts Australia in dreamland

Australia found itself 3-0 at half-time up against a shell-shocked Ecuador thanks to two goals from Cahill, the first of which made him the outright leading Socceroos goalscorer ahead of Damian Mori.

With Ecuador placed 29 rungs above Australia in FIFA's world rankings, a shock looked on the cards as the Socceroos stunned the South Americans with clinical play to lead 3-0 at half-time.

The opening goal came via a corner after the unmarked Mark Milligan headed in the direction of Cahill, who nodded the ball into the top corner after just eight minutes at his old club Millwall's ground.

The lead was doubled when Cahill was man-handled in the box, allowing Jedinak to slot home a penalty.

Australia then found itself in dreamland as Tommy Oar hit a superbly weighted cross from the left to find Cahill's diving header, as the New York Red Bull midfielder made it two for the night, and 31 goals for the Socceroos.

The new-look back-line of Jason Davidson, Curtis Good, Ivan Franjic and Matthew Spiranovic did an excellent job in marshalling the pace of Antonio Valencia.